Doctors need to speak to patients with terminal illnesses in a timelier way and handle conversations with greater compassion and confidence, says a report from the Royal College of Physicians.

The report, which examined why clinicians find it difficult to talk to patients about death, found that some doctors thought that death could be perceived as a failure and that modern medicine was expected to cure all ailments. However, evidence from patients and carers indicated that many people wanted to talk about death and that planning helped them feel more empowered about their care and decision making. …